General : Do the Virgin Media UK need an "tidy up"?

[Mad Max]

Originally Posted by Maggy

It's useful if you have missed the start of a programme. What's really need is better programmes..on all channels. So much crap and repeats.

Bang on, Maggy.

[jfman]

Fundamentally if people keep paying for it then it’s not likely to change. Since the advent of pay-tv in this country the majority of content there’s been entire channels devoted to ex-BBC and ex-ITV content.

A customary look at the BARB top 30 from ‘other channels’ from 2018 shows series like Vera, Endeavour, Poirot getting hundreds of thousands of viewers on ITV3 in there. There’s new content getting less viewers on smaller channels.

Channels devoted to repeats are the home DVD collection of people who aren’t sufficiently motivated to go out and buy the stuff themselves, or aren’t so passionate about the shows that they’re bothered about lining up any specific episode to watch. They’re just content to switch on and see what’s there. For the broadcaster, it’s a very low cost way of meeting the demands of a small but consistent audience.

[Carth]

Originally Posted by jfman

Fundamentally if people keep paying for it then it’s not likely to change. Since the advent of pay-tv in this country the majority of content there’s been entire channels devoted to ex-BBC and ex-ITV content.

A customary look at the BARB top 30 from ‘other channels’ from 2018 shows series like Vera, Endeavour, Poirot getting hundreds of thousands of viewers on ITV3 in there. There’s new content getting less viewers on smaller channels.

I'd look at that and think . . . maybe the new stuff isn't good enough?

. . especially sitcoms

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Carth

I'd look at that and think . . . maybe the new stuff isn't good enough?

. . especially sitcoms

The newer sitcoms are not a patch on the older sitcoms.

[cheekyangus]

I think VM's "body language" suggests a tidy up of some sort is on the cards, they are allowing gaps to develop in order to make future moves easier.

The other thing on the cards is the OFCOM requirement for PSB channels to be in the Top24 positions by January 2021. Some of the documentation for Digital Terrestrial (i.e. Freeview) asked for responses by the end of July to amend their EPG rules in order to make achieving this easier on that platform to achieve that. They are aiming to do this by November so it's all done by Christmas. So VM may make moves around this time too.

For some reason OFCOM aren't content with services like S4C, BBC Scotland and BBC Alba only being Top24 in their relevant parts of the UK, so even though I think VM have already accommodated the requirement easily, for the most part (BBC Alba still needs moved), in those nations, due to 108 and 113 being not being required for BBC1 HD and ITV HD, so VM still have to move them in the rest of the UK.

Since VM have a Channel 100, the Top 24 ends at 123. That (probably) means anything up to 160 (BBC Alba is 161, BBC Scotland is 162, S4C is 166) could be on the move.

An easy fix would by Sky going HD-only as they could take their SD slots at 110 and 112 for Comedy and Arts leaving 121-123 free. Top24 problem solved. Not saying this will happen, just saying it's an easy fix and Sky wouldn't lose their prominence in the VM EPG.

[Chris James]

The BBC have not got any +1 channels because they don't need them. I don't see enough praise for BBC iPlayer on here. Here are just three nuggets that put itv, Ch4 and Ch5 to shame:
(1) Able to restart any programme where you have missed the beginning.
(2) Always HD (your bandwith permitting)
(3) Superb collection of boxsets, films and documentaries, some in UHD.

[Raider999]

Originally Posted by Chris James

The BBC have not got any +1 channels because they don't need them. I don't see enough praise for BBC iPlayer on here. Here are just three nuggets that put itv, Ch4 and Ch5 to shame:
(1) Able to restart any programme where you have missed the beginning.
(2) Always HD (your bandwith permitting)
(3) Superb collection of boxsets, films and documentaries, some in UHD.

All for £150 pa

[Carth]

Everything comes at a price, whether that price is acceptable for the content is down to the individual viewer.

Same with clothing, furniture, cars, holidays . . . it's your choice if you accept or reject the quality at the price.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Raider999

All for £150 pa

Well worth £150..

[Chris James]

Glad there is some support on here for BBC cos I am fed up with all the negativity from the media. Continuing on from my 3 above...
(4) Amazing range of BBC radio stations including regional ones, all without adverts.
(5) Politically impartial and although some commentators do wear their colours on their sleeve, it's not overt like, for example, LBC.
(6) Pioneers for technology in the UK including colour (1967), Nicam Stereo, Widescreen broadcasting.

The rows are largely superficial. Why would you have Land of Hope and Glory at the Proms this year when there is no flag waving audience to sing it?

We are all go to the BBC for major news stories. If there was a death, say, in the Royal Family would everyone go to Netflix to get the details?

And because we all like tradition, the Queen's Christmas broadcast is broadcast simultaneously on BBC, ITV and Sky yet it's watched on the BBC by a margin of around 10:1.

Oh, and to get back on topic, Virgin are more or less fine. Perhaps by the time I write this they will have acknowledged that Sky 2 is now Sky Replay but there we go.

[jfman]

If there was a death in the Royal Family I’d go to Netflix to watch something else.

[Chris James]

Originally Posted by jfman

If there was a death in the Royal Family I’d go to Netflix to watch something else.

Ha ha! As a last minute edit before posting I did add "to get the details" in anticipation of that!

[muppetman11]

Have to admit I watch BBC news but I also equally watch Sky News and have many times gone there first.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Chris James

The BBC have not got any +1 channels because they don't need them. I don't see enough praise for BBC iPlayer on here. Here are just three nuggets that put itv, Ch4 and Ch5 to shame:
(1) Able to restart any programme where you have missed the beginning.
(2) Always HD (your bandwith permitting)
(3) Superb collection of boxsets, films and documentaries, some in UHD.

They wanted a BBC1 +1 from 7PM until closedown to utilise the old BBC3 capacity, but it wasn't allowed as it was feared that this would impact on the commercial channels.